Broken, Not Defective: Understanding How We Drift Off Course
What Does “Broken” Really Mean?
Broken is a word we often use casually, but it carries an important distinction.
If an object no longer functions the way it did when it left the manufacturing process, we say it is broken. That’s different from defective, which suggests something was flawed from the start. Broken implies that it worked once — and then something changed.
When we apply this idea to people, it becomes surprisingly comforting.
Most of us are not defective at birth. Our bodies, minds, and emotional systems generally function the way they were designed to, unless something went wrong before birth. So if we start life whole and capable, an important question follows:
How do people become broken over time?
How Everyday Choices Shape Our Wellbeing
One of the most uncomfortable truths I’ve had to accept is that our daily choices matter more than we think.
I neglected essential nutrients and overindulged in things I knew weren’t good for my body. Nothing dramatic happened overnight. Instead, the consequences crept in quietly, eventually showing up as a thyroid condition. I can’t really blame anyone else for that — and strangely, taking responsibility has been empowering.
Brokenness often doesn’t arrive through crisis.
It shows up through patterns.
Small decisions, repeated consistently, shape our physical and mental health far more than we realise.
The Hidden Cost of Misinformation
Another contributor to brokenness is the information we consume.
I’ve allowed myself to believe ideas that weren’t the best or most accurate, and those beliefs influenced some poor life choices. When it comes to health, lifestyle, and personal development, misinformation is everywhere. Advice is often loud, conflicting, and driven by trends rather than truth.
Learning to slow down, question what we hear, and seek out reliable information is one of the most important upgrades we can make.
Trust, Discernment, and Hard Lessons
Then there’s the people factor.
I like to believe the best in people — and I still do. But I’ve learned the hard way that trust without discernment can be costly. Some of my most expensive life lessons didn’t come from bad intentions, but from misplaced trust.
Discernment isn’t about becoming guarded or cynical.
It’s about becoming wise.
Healthy boundaries are often built from experience, reflection, and growth.
Why Real Change Starts on the Inside
As part of the Becoming Maverick journey, we often talk about disruption — challenging systems, habits, and external influences that don’t serve us. But real transformation usually begins inward.
Our thinking patterns.
Our routines.
Our assumptions about ourselves.
Sometimes the biggest thing holding us back isn’t circumstances or other people — it’s our own unexamined habits and beliefs.
Internal disruption takes courage. It’s quieter than rebellion, but far more powerful.
Broken Doesn’t Mean Finished
Here’s the hopeful part.
Being broken doesn’t mean we’re beyond repair. It often just means something needs attention.
On this journey toward a Maverick mindset and lifestyle, we get to own our missteps, upgrade how we make decisions, and keep moving forward. It’s never too late to change direction.
When we take responsibility for our choices, seek better information, and surround ourselves with people who genuinely want to see us thrive, brokenness can become a turning point — not a label.
Sometimes, the very places where we feel broken are the places where growth quietly begins.
Reflection Questions
-
What habits in my life might be slowly wearing me down rather than building me up?
-
What information do I accept without questioning — and should I revisit it?
-
Where might discernment help me make better decisions moving forward?
Final Thoughts: Broken Is Not the End of the Story
If there’s one thing worth remembering, it’s this: being broken doesn’t mean you were flawed from the start, and it certainly doesn’t mean you’re finished.
Most of us begin life whole. Along the way, through choices, misinformation, misplaced trust, and simple human missteps, things start to wear down. That’s not a failure — it’s part of being human.
The encouraging truth is that awareness changes everything. The moment we take responsibility, seek better information, and make even small adjustments, we begin the process of restoration. Growth doesn’t require perfection, just honesty and willingness.
Where you are right now is not a verdict on your future. It’s an invitation.
An invitation to reflect, to realign, and to move forward with greater wisdom than before. Brokenness, when faced with courage and intention, often becomes the very place where strength is rebuilt and purpose clarified.
Keep going. Small changes compound. And it’s never too late to become better than you were yesterday.
No comments:
Post a Comment